Birmingham vow to hold on to No.2 Black

Bruce is set to be unveiled as Wigan's new manager later today and he wants
Black to eventually join him at the JJB Stadium.

But the former Coventry boss will be in charge of Birmingham's home game with
Portsmouth on Saturday and Gold is keen to make sure he stays on a permanent
basis.

Gold revealed: 'I believe Eric Black is special. I really admire him.
His multi-lingual skills are so important in communicating with our foreign
players and he has a great relationship with the squad.

'I will be doing everything to keep him at Birmingham. I want him to stay and
will be fighting to stop him going to Wigan.

'We want to keep the best people at Birmingham - and Eric is a person who
falls into that category. He will be in charge on Saturday and we wish him
well.'

Blues need Black to stay to maintain continuity after Bruce's decision to end
an eight-year association with the club - two as a player and six as manager.

David Sullivan has indicated the club will be looking for a high-profile
manager but Martin Jol has already ruled out any possibility of moving to St
Andrews after speaking with City's co-owner.

And reports that former Fulham boss Chris Coleman could be taking over at
Blues are wide of the mark.

Gold said: 'We are working hard to resolve all of the issues. Steve Bruce
leaving is an issue in itself. We won't leave any stone unturned to try to sort
things out satisfactorily.'

Scotland manager Alex McLeish and former Wigan boss Paul Jewell have joined
Jol in making it known that they are not interested in the post.

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is also believed to have been considered a
possible candidate but there is no chance of him walking out on the south coast
club for a second time.

Blues, who have received £3million compensation from Wigan for allowing Bruce
to leave, can tempt any prospective candidates with a lucrative salary.

But any big-name appointment would also want major transfer funds to bolster
the fight against relegation in the second half of the campaign.